crimate changee Flashcards
Types of Climate
Tropical Climate
Temperate Climate
Polar Climate
Tropical Climate facts
30N°-30S°
High temp
High rainfall
Temperate Climate
30N/S°-60N/S°
4 seasons
Moderate rainfall
Polar Climate
60N/S°-90N/S°
Low temp
Low rainfall
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Higher amounts of CO2 caused by burning of fossil fuels
Methane- cattle cuz they be farting (flatulence)
N20- vehicle exhaust
Cfcs- water vapour
Climate Change Causes
Natural
- variations in solar output (sunspots)
-Volcanic eruptions (global dimming)
Man-Made
-Burning of fossil fuels (Highest contributor to greenhouse gases)
-Deforestation (second highest contributor, as < trees, < carbon sinks, > co2 in atmosphere)
-Agriculture (cattle ranching)
-Industrialisation (CO2 from industrial processes)
-Urbanisation
Climate Change Impacts
Social
- Risk of Public health (mosquito borne diseases)
- Displacement of human population (coastal area flooded)
- Livelihood & Food security (> natural disasters, destroy crops and infrastructure)
- Damage to properties and loss of homes (weather related disasters)
- Decrease in agriculture produce (change in agriculture patterns)
Climate Change Impacts
Political
- Water wars (differing political views- unrest)
- Geopolitical (collaborations between countries)
Climate Change Impacts
Economical
- Food production and agriculture (water and temp)
- Tourism(coastal areas)
- > food prices/healthcare cost
- Damage costs & maintenance expenses (unpredictable weather disasters)
Climate Change Impacts
Environmental
- Extreme weather conditions (> hurricane, storms and precipitation)
- Water supply (< freshwater supply)
- Rise of sea level (melting of glaciers)
- Wave erosion (> sea levels, sand washed away)
- Altered habitats/ loss of ecosystems ( > mitigation, < breeding)
- Impact on Flora and Fauna ( infestations and altered weather, loss of habitats)
- Natural environment in polar regions (melting of ice caps and glaciers)
Climate Change Impacts
Advantages
- Reduction of winter deaths (social) (cannot afford heating)
- > crop yield ( lengthens growing seasons) (economic)
- Increase port businesses (economic) ( new trade routes when ice caps melt)
- Growth for pharmaceutical Industry (economic) ( >diseases, > demand)
Mitigation Measures
International
-Kyoto protocol
(International treaties)
-Copenhagen Conference (improve on measures by Kyoto protocol)
Mitigation Measures
National
- Government turn to clean energies
- Impose on taxes on industries emitting greenhouse gases beyond acceptable levels
- Give incentives to those which conserve energy or invest in energy-saving technologies
- Carry out public education programmes to > awareness
Mitigation Measures
Individual
- conserve use of energy (switch off when not in use, switch to fluorescent lightbulbs)
- buy wood furniture that is sustainably harvested
- use washing machine/ dishwasher only when you have full load
- cut back on meat as 1/5 global emissions come from livestock
- don’t overcool air-con rooms
- use energy efficient appliances